Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, said she had fled Venezuela with the help of the United States. She had been in hiding in the country for more than a year.
Machado told reporters on Thursday, hours after arriving in Oslo, Norway, to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. “We have received the help of the US government,” she said.
Machado declined to give details of her departure, saying she wanted to protect her allies. The Trump administration has not commented publicly on Machado’s departure.
Despite the small Venezuelan population in Norway, many of her countrymen came to see Machado in Oslo. When she arrived on the balcony of the Grand Hotel early Thursday, the Venezuelan diaspora gathered there erupted in cheers. They chanted “freedom” and “peace” in Spanish. Many sang the Venezuelan national anthem.
Machado went into hiding shortly after Venezuela's presidential election last year. According to international observers, Machado's candidate won the election by a landslide, despite coordinated government threats and a crackdown on the opposition.
However, President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner after the election. He remained in power. At the same time, he is accused of repressing the opposition.
Machado said earlier Thursday that the Venezuelan government was unaware of his whereabouts. If they had known, they would have prevented him from travelling to Norway. In Norway, his daughter accepted the Peace Prize on Machado's behalf on Wednesday.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed on Wednesday, without providing any evidence, that the government was aware of his movements. Venezuelan officials had previously said that Machado would be considered a fugitive if he left the country.
Machado acknowledged that he could be arrested if he returned to Venezuela under the current government. He added that he was not sure when he would be able to return to Venezuela.
Regarding his trip to Norway, Machado said, “I believe that the risks of leaving Venezuela, although very high, were worthwhile. The risks of returning are probably even higher.”
Machado returned to the world stage after US President Donald Trump dramatically increased pressure on the Venezuelan government. On Wednesday, the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of a South American country.
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Machado did not comment directly on the seizure of the tanker. However, on Thursday, he repeatedly supported Washington’s efforts to cut off Maduro’s sources of funding.
“I believe that President Trump’s actions have played a role in the situation we are in now. It has made the Maduro regime weaker than before.”
Machado, however, did not discuss his next political steps with reporters. He only said that initially, he would spend time reconnecting with his three children and team and taking care of his own treatment.
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